Carmanian

Official Number 95406

The Carmanian was a steel ship built by R.Williamson & Son at Workington, launched on Monday, 19th April 1897. The vessel was sailed to Liverpool for loading, and made her first voyage to Melbourne, under the command of Capt.William F.Bunn, the story of which was briefly noted in a Melbourne newspaper on her arrival:

" The Carmanian, which anchored in Hobson's Bay on Monday night, is a fine looking new steel ship, of 1,773 tons burthen. She has a large cargo of general merchandise from Liverpool, which port she left on the 8th July. Captain Bunn, who has charge, reports a generally uneventful voyage. North of the Equator the ship was greatly hampered by poor winds, and only crossed the line on the 10th of August. The S.E. Trades proved moderate down to lat.28 deg., where they gave out, variables and westerlies ensuing thence to the prime meridian, which was passed on the 11th September  in 35 deg.S. The meridian of the Cape was passed on the 17th September, in lat.38 deg.S., and the easting was run down between the parallels of lat.40 deg. and lat.42 deg., under the usual winds, an occasional gale varying the monotony of the long run across. The meridian of the Leeuwin was passed on the 16th October, in lat.40 deg., and the Heads were entered on Monday afternoon. Although the voyage was rather protracted, this was   evidently due to the want of serviceable winds, for in several instances, when the breeze was favourable, the ship exhibited excellent sailing qualities, and accomplished good runs."

The Carmanian returned to London, and then made voyages London-New York-Sydney-London and London-New York, Hong Kong - San Francisco - Queentown - Shields (Tyne).

Shipping Intelligence reports of the Carmanian, from 1897 to 1900.

Date	Report	Source	Date	Report	Source
	Report of launch of Carmanian at Workington	Liverpool Mercury, 30th April 1897	27th Dec.1898	Carmanian, spoken at 28S 26W, from New York for Sydney	Dundee Courier & Argus, 13th February 1899
8th July 1897	Carmanian left Liverpool for Melbourne	Morning Post, 10th July 1897		Advert, Carmanian, loading at Smith's Wharf, Sydney, for London to depart about 5th May.	Sydney Morning Herald, 24th April 1899
25th Oct.1897	Carmanian, arrived at Melbourne from Liverpool	The Standard, 27th Oct.1897	18th August 1899	Carmanian, passed Scilly Islands, from Sydney for London	Glasgow Herald, 19th August  1899
8th Feb.1998	Carmanian, left Melbourne for London	Glasgow Herald, 14th Feb.1898	28th Sept.1899	Carmanian, arrived at Gravesend, from Sydney	Glasgow Herald, 29th September 1899
9th June 1898	Carmanian, passed St.Catherine's Point, from Melbourne for London.	Glasgow Herald, 10th June 1998	22nd Nov.1899	Carmanian, passed Gravesend, London for New York	The Standard, 23rd November  1899
11th June 1898	Carmanian, entered London Docks.	Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, 12th June 1898	8th Jan.1900	Carmanian, arrived New York from London.	Morning Post, 10th January  1900
6th August 1898	Carmanian, reported at 49N 25W	The Standard, 15th Aug.1898	9th July 1900	Carmanian, at Hong Kong from New York	Glasgow Herald, 11th July 1900
8th Sept.1898	Carmanian, arrived at New York from London	Morning Post, 10th Sept.1898	11th Nov.1900	Carmanian, at San Francisco from Hong Kong	Glasgow Herald , 13th November 1900

The Carmanian was operated by her builders until 1903, when she was sold to E.F.&W.Roberts, also of Workington. In 1910 the Carmanian was sold to Norwegian owners and was registered at Stavanger, retaining her name.

The Carmanian was lost during the First World War, on passage from Buenos Aires (departed 18th February, 1916) to Queenstown with a wheat cargo. The barque was sunk by gunfire from a German submarine 55 miles off the West coast of Ireland on Tuesday, 25th April 1916. The crew abandoned ship in two boats, one of which capsized, drowning all aboard. The other, containing the master and nine men, reached the Dingle peninsula in Ireland and the men were rescued by cliff ladders. Some of the rescuers were later commended by the King of Norway.

Sources : "Shipbuilding at Workington - a Checklist" by Harry Fancy, pub. Whitehaven Museum (1985). Launch announced in the Whitehaven Gazette, Thursday, 22nd April, 1897. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1898-9: Carmanian, steel ship, owned by R.Williamson & Son, registered at Workington, master Capt.W.F.Bunn, official number 95406, signal letters PRBS. Carmanian passages to Australia reported in Australian newspapers -see National Library of Australia website. This website also has several photographs of the vessel, and states that Capt.Bunn died at sea on the Carmanian on the 19th May 1904, on a voyage from New Caledonia to Delaware. Carmanian visits to San Francisco reported in the San Francisco Call newspaper - see California Digital Newspaper Collection. National Maritime Museum has six photographs of the Carmanian in its collection, negative nos.P2010-P2015. Submarine attack reported in the Times newspaper, Thursday 27th April 1916, page 3 and Friday 28th April 1916, page 3 - states that the vessel was sunk by gunfire, two men were drowned and ten men reached the Irish coast. The Times newspaper, Thursday, 30th May 1918, page 3 - states that eight men were rescued at Ballinabuck in April 1916, and that a piece of plate was awarded by the King of Norway to the Rev.Thomas Jones, of Ballyferriter, Co.Kerry,  and £3 each was given by the King to Patrick Connor, Patrick Lynch and Patrick James Connor, all for their assistance in the rescue of the crew of the Carmanian. Norsk Skipsfartshistorisk Selskap (Norwegian Shipping History Society) - states that the vessel was sunk by U19, and that 3 men died. Position given as 50.16N, 12.02 W.

Click photo to enlarge Crew of the ship Carmanian, at San Francisco, sometime betwen her release from quarantine on the 12th December 1900 and her departure for Queenstown on the 28th December. The back row probably comprises the master, three mates, steward, carpenter and cook. The carpenter, William Gambles, is second from the right. The master, Capt.Bunn, is probably the odd looking character on the extreme left of the back row. Photo courtesy of Judythe Whittell, great-granddaughter of William Gambles.